Frank Geraghty's racer parked at the Shell Station on Route 206 in Hillsborough,
NJ in this 1961 photo from Stan Tomasko.

There was a time
(before
the days of "Self Serve") that you'd look in the bays and/or around the
back of your local garage or body shop and often see the "Pride of the Shop."
Maybe still on the trailer showing the after effects of recent competition -
but sure enough, there it was. (Sometimes Dad might even stop by and you'd get
to see the car up close, away from the track!)

Many of these garages
were the home-base for some of the best running Modifieds and Sportsman cars of their day
and you can bet there was a lot of pride on the line when their car, that
carried their name, earned them the right to proudly fly the Checkered
Flag in front of the shop!

"Busty's Texeco Service"
Penns Grove, NJ

"Custom Auto Body"
Avenel, NJ

Treat's Garage"
Windsor, NJ

To add your
nominee to the above list please provide the following in this order: Car Description & #, Shop Name, Shop Location,
Driver-Year-Track, along with your name.Add your LOCAL GARAGE FAVORITEor, email us at
3wide@optonline.net and put
"Local Garage" in the subject line so we'll know where to post your
info.

(Thanks
for providing the info in that format - It will make it a lot easier for us to post!)

#518 Sam Williams out of Lambertville NJ drove and worked on the cars.
They all were blue and white. I remember at Flemington he was leading a
heat race and flipped 7 times between 1st and 2nd turn. There were about
five different cars. They last one was beautiful a coupe shiny blue gold
numbers, leather interior and seat wall to wall, spoiler in the rear,
closed in front couldn't see the motor. After 2 races everything had to
go to much weight but it was 1 of a kind for a moment. Also he raced 3m
for George McConold.

If the garage door was open at the Sunoco, I'd see it on our way to Bridgeport, or as it
was then called "Statewide Speedway"

Steven Fegley

White and Blue #210 Sportsman -
37 Ford coupe

Scotties Mobil (Car was owned By John Stuber)

Mantua, New
Jersey

Driven By Bobby Becker At Alcyon speedway

Ken Tate

#7 White with red flames Sedan, coupe,
and '57 Ford

Slayton's Garage - Owned by Tiny
Slayton

8031 Norris
LaneBaltimore, Maryland

Driver was Johnny Roberts of Brooklyn
Park, Md. Cars raced at, Westport Stadium in Baltimore, Alcyon in Pittman, N.J., Various tracks in
Va. and N.C. - Won NASCAR National Modified Championship in 1960 and 1961. Won
several track championships.

Tony Mercurio operated this garage
/gas station in the Strawberry section in the 50s-60s. The car was a back marker at
Old Bridge/Wall etc. Drivers Jake Goodski and others.

Charlie Lindmar

#XE-1, #28, #83

Custom Auto Body

Rt 1&9 -
Avenel, NJ.

Don House's XL-1 always comes to mind
when thinking of Custom Auto Body, but the shop owners, Al Gerhum and Andy Kovalinski also
ran a number of cars out of there over the years. The XE-1, #28 (a 56 Ford bodied car ,
can't remember the driver) and the #83 ( driven by Dick Havens at Old Bridge ) Being they
ran a body shop, the cars always looked great. The 83 was pearl yellow and white, very
pretty car. The 28 had orange glitter numbers. Really cool in '64!

The 44 that Tas drove was first owned
by Toots Armellini and Romeo Gelsi of Vineland, NJ.

The 44 was built at Armellini Express on Brewster Road in
Vineland. It was sold to Neal Williams and was built at Williams Junk Yard on W. Landis
Ave. in Vineland.

Kriss BowlesLutz, FL

#119

Marcacci Service

Vineland,
NJ

The 119 was owned by Pete Marcacci of
Vineland, NJ.and was built in his gas station (Marcacci Service) on Main Road in Vineland,
NJ. Pete was the one that got Raggs Carter to NJ from FL. Other drivers were Herb
Schock, and Estell Oliver from Hazad, KY. The car ran at Vineland Speedway in the 50's.

After the 119 crashed on the backstretch of Vineland Speedway, August 1956, Pete
became the chief stewart for Vineland Speedway. The 119 almost won a race at Atco Speedway
with Al Tasnady driving it.

Kriss (Marcacci) BowlesLutz, FL

#130 Coupe Mustang

Quality Auto Body

Rt 130
South Burlington NJ

Johnny Leach - Flemington, Windsor -
late 60s and 70s

Nick Leach

Red Ford powered #76 modified chevy
coupe, ford Pinto, Ford Falcon

C & F Racing

Rt. 30,
just east of Everett, Pa.(behind Chamberlain's Phillps 66
service station)

Car kept at home shop in
Bridgeton,NJ however Hildreth Motors was located in Millville,
NJ

Elton Hildreth
(Hoss Hayes!) /60's, Vineland

Dick Millar/Ralph Richards/

Comment below received From John
Rich on 8/19/04: "Hildreth`s Motors" is,
and always has been, located in Bridgeton, NJ. It is still located at 513 N. Pearl
St.

#39 White Coupe

PIscopo Auto Body

Morrisville, PA

Bob Troutman,
Budd Olsen & Al Tasnady / 60's

Dick Millar

Blue & White
#SSS

C&D Auto
Parts

Perth Amboy, NJ

Bob
Malzahn/60's/most tracks

Dick Millar

Red #2A Coupe
& Vega

Garrett's Gulf
(owned by Walt Garrett)

Phillipsburg, NJ

Carl Fuzzy
VanHorn/60's & 70's/ Naz, Mid, etc

Bob Hummer Sr.

Additional Note on the #2A from
Barry: The #2a Vega also spent some time at
Warren Brake & Tire Pburg n.j. The car was sponsored by Jim Pappy Wollman.
Kenny Wismer drove the car. I did the body and paint work on the car. I
still miss those days. Barry